Sheet-separating device for paper-feeding machines



1927' E. H. LILJEBLADH SHEET SEPARATING DEVICE FOR PAPER FEEDINGMACHINES FiledJan. 21 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 $0 QQM QT HT 0" W m H 0TINVENTOR. flaw f 4% A TTORNEYS.

P 1,635,626 July 1927' E. H. LILJEBLADH SHEE.T SEPARATING DEVICE FORAPER FEEDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 21 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 [I "a, a i c)I ll! I lllllll n 4 A TTORNEYS.

July 12, 1927. 1,635,626

E. H. LILJEBLADH SHEET SEPARATING DEVICE FOR PAPER FEEDING MACHINESFiled Jan. 21 1926 s sne is-she'et 3 r/i w INVENTOR. 7

A TTORNEYS.

July 12, 1927.

E. H. LILJEBLADH SHEET SEPARATING DEVICE FOR PAPER FEEDING MACHINE FiledJan; 21-1926 a Sheets-Sheet IN V EN TOR. BY Mffl A TTORNEYS.

' 1,635,626 Jul 12,1927. BH'ULJEBLADH, 6

SHEET SEPARATING DEVICE FOR PAPER FEEDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 21 1926 6Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

July 12, 1927. 1,635,626

E. H. LILJEBLADH SHEET SEPARATING DEVICE FOR PAPER FEEDING MACHINESFiled Jan. 21 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR. BY i/wmfl A TTORNEYS.

Patented July 12 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERIC HARRY LILJEBLADH, F GOTTENBORG, SWEDEN.

SHEET-SEPARATING DEVICE FOR PAPER-FEEDING MACHINES.

Application filed January 21, 1926, Serial No. 82,806, and in SwedenDecember 7, 1925.

Thisinvention relates to sheet separating devices in paper feedingmachines for printing presses or similar appliances, by means of which asingle sheet from a pile of paper is separated from the pile and fedforwards to the printing press or machine, with which 'the feedingdevice is combined. More specifically the invention relates to suchsheet separating apparatus, which are disposed at the rear edge ofthepaper pile with respect to the feeding direction and the prin cipaloperating device of which comprises a suction foot. 1

One object of this invention is to provide such means, that when theuppermost sheet .is seized by the suction foot and raised by it, thefront edge of said sheet is displaced neither forwards nor backwards bythe lifting movement of the suction foot. A further object of theinvention is to provide means for. disengaging the sheets from oneanother, when ready for becoming seized bythe suction foot.

Further objects of the invention are to prevent the raising of more.than one. single sheet at each lifting movement of the suction foot andto properly hold the other sheets in the pile in proper position duringthe forward feeding of the uppermost sheet.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in thecombination of elements described in the accompanying specification andreferred to in the appended claims. 1 V

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation View. of theapparatus with the suction foot resting on the paper pile,

Figure 2 1s a similar elevation view. with the suction foot raisedhaving seized the uppermost sheet, whereby some parts are shown insection, V

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus, Figure 4; shows the apparatusfrom beneath, Figure 5 is an end view looking from behind,

Figure 6 is a side view of a portion of the improved device, 2 Figure 7is aside elevation view of the as sembled apparatus with drivingelements, in a smaller scale, and g V Figure 8 a detail of the suctionfoot in a side elevation, partially cut.

Similar numerals of reference are em- 200 is secured by a releasableclamping deing press 71 or to the machine, to which the sheets are to befed, and its rear end vice 4; to a carrier 5. The scew 4 on. the

by means of a link 78 secured to the printframe work 71, to which theapparatus is applied, goes through a vertical slot 6 in the carrier 5,so that the bar end, 200 can if wanted be displaced in verticaldirection and secured in position by tightening the clamping screw Onthe main body 1 and in .one piece therewith two guide bushes 7, 8 areprovided for the stearing each of a sliding rod 10, 11 respectively,which sliding rods carry a suction foot holder 9. The bushes 7, 8 are,according for the purpose of this invention, given an inclinationforwards against the vertical line as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and for thepurpose, that will be vmore particularly described here below.

, The suction foot holder 9' is formed as a fork, in the two shanks12,13 of which a suction foot 15.is pivotally mounted ontvvo horizontaljournals 14 placed in right angle to the feeding direction. The oneshank 13 of the holder 9 isprovided with a slot 16, through which a set,screw 17 passes, that is screwed into an car 18 projecting from thesuction foot 15, to makeiit possible to vary the inclination of thesuction foot with ref erence to the holder 9.

The intermediate portion 90 of the suction foot holder 9 is formed as acrank, the pin 900 of which is" gripped'by the 'jawlike end 190 of theone arm 19 of a bell crank lever, that is pivotally mounted on the mainbody 1 by means of a pin 21. The other arm 22of the said bell cranklever by means of a slotted bush 24; and a set screw 23 is clamped to arocking rod 25, which is given a reciprocatingmovement by a crank 72 ongn oscillatingshaft79in the printing press The upper portion ot' themain body i above the pin 2i, is termed as a low pressure aircollectorFlt? the nni n pipe oi whieh is designated by 21' and by nflexible tube 73 connected to 21 surtion pump it. the collector 26 isprovided with twopipesockets 28 which by flexible tubes 2!.)oreconnected each to a similar socket Eldon the suction foot 15, so thatthe cavity 31 of the suction foot 15 communicates through the collector-26 with the suction pump Til.

The colleetor 52G Lt'urther is in'ovided with on air sluice 32 to.regnihrte the rorunin therein by allowing atmospheric nir to enter thecollector 26.

A distributor ki l for compressed air is bolted. to the main body 1 byscrews 33 beliindthe collector en. The nminpine 35 ot' the dis ributorSi: is conneeted'to o compressor pinup 7.6 by n flexible tube 'i'o. llhedistributoryi It its lower end is provided with twopipe ()t l\'0i'Snndfzrt its upper [)(JllOll \eithtwo othrsochetsE-ET. In the ilmtorihhtliere between these two pairs oi sockets provided zrtlirottle 38,the shaft 39 oiwhie h passes through the wall of the distributor Set andis providedlwith a rrn'liolly projecting; urni e110; disposed intliei'rn r oi :1 finger ell "secured to the sliding rod to on thesuction "toot holder 9. A spirnlspring' ill eonneeted to thonn'iin bod 1tends to hold the throttle nornmllly closed.

According to the liHeSOllil embodiment oi the invention the suctionfootl i provided with. on zingnl r lHJOhCH suction face. the troutportion fot' which is horizontal, and the lienrportion eli directedupwardly in on acute angle towards the pile. Extending bueltwardly fromthe suction foot 15 lo ts 43:3 'n'oject :is o. continuation of the inclined portion eli forming supports tor two curred nozzle-s ll; for the.s ironing of coinnre d air from the distributor ill. which nozzlesnre'nirotoliy secured to the supports lhso that the eon variably, beinclined with rete ence to the suction :lool; bTiby ineuns oi set screwsThe nor odes .i-el nrc eonnected to the upper soeliots 3}" ot thedistributor Bibby flexible tubes in.

File lower. disqiosed pipe soclieh-rilti of the distrilhitor 3-3; oreeonnected to two other norialbs or. air spraying: bend}:v in by flexibleubes 4-7 which bends l8 are situated so tor :ibnt't the suetii'mrt'ootin, that their poo-L tion bel'iindtho rear edge off the ride lot"), endthey. are ntljustiible up and down in rerticnlln disposed holders elf).whiehholders are disnlneenble iillltlfl ll being :ilidnhl -J inoilntedon. n cross bar :10 poeitioued square to the feeding: direction andt-Htlil'lil to the, main body It by means of set s-crr son The heads l8are provided with bottoms-1, inelijhed torwnrdly :uid downwardly asclearly shown in Fig.1. In thefrout well the heads l8 n-re proi' 'idedeach with it verticul slot 5i as o nozzle for the jet o'li' co1npressedair.

The main body 1 also carries :1 roarwordly directed bar 52, below endparallel to the main bnr 2. Along the bar :52 a support 52) is slidnbleillllli prorided with on upwardly directed tori-zed uido :rl, whichslides along the main bar 2. n urtlier on arm .55 projects downwardlyfrom the support 53 forming :1. bearing piiroi. whereupi'ni 2L tlhp sois hinged in such :1 wow that; it :an swing up and down in a verticalplane uirullel tothe teeding direction, whereby the pin 5'? ispositioned substznrli'inlly in the some horizontal plane as theoperntite nurince 4-2, when the suction foot 15 is in its lowern'iostposi .ion. The pin 5'? has n erzinh 52%; which. carries a slotted bushlit; with n n ttk screw 59, by which the bush can be (jltllllllttl to arocking rod (ii. that isigiven n .reoiprocuting movement from zrcrnnlc71 on the ntoreinentinned oscillating shaft: 79 in the printing. P31417'1.

'ih limp 56 near its hub 56? carries on t stondino bow (32' iivotallymounted (trip it} and surroiunliinr the intern1e- )Ultltili ot' thesupport: 53. The how (32 he front portion tiilo'f the su 'iport- 553,which llll och :1 height and w'dtlh that the how (32 when the lion no isruieed can be moved upon the wintion (33. To nutonniticnlly reuse thisinoreinent a: spiral Spring (it wound about the one pivot ot' the bow(l2 rind secured :it n pin (36, which is fixed, somewhat higher on thebow or so that the tension oi the spr' ti-fl tends to cause the bow 65.5to swim); lei-words A. stop pin (3'? on the support fiilnrevents the how(352 to swing in too tor above the portion (53. Another pin (35ieseeured to the nuiinbody 1! in order to nnh down in :2 iertnin momentthe bow 2 oil the portion (32-3 For the pur nise mentioned below. (hithe upper side of the thin so there is on :nl iustuible stud (ifhwhichin the raised position oi the thin SGHiilllQGri against the under side(it the support 5?) thereby limiting); the rnise oi. the flop 56. Theeup 'nnrt i also is gn'ovided with a spirel spring '70, the one endtiilinillhll is socured to the main body i end which with :1. certainFlexibility couilterzurts the renrwzn'd nn'weinent oi the support 53LThe operation of the machine as thus described is as follows: i i i Thepaper pile MO is placed in position on the table 110. whereupon the mainbar 9, carrying: theninin body l, is adjusted ver ticnlly by displacingits T021 endfldti in the rertiezil slot (it of the holder 5 and securingsome in the desired position by the set, screw t. This odjnslim: isperformed so For, that the suction toot l i presses slightly :igninstthe paper pile 100 by; nienno oi. the horizontnl 'l'ece portion The setscrews 3, QZ-and 59 are now unscrewed and the whole zippernt-us pushedso for bncluverds, that thereer ill) lit

lid

edge of the suction foot arrives only a little distance in front of therear, edge of the pile 100 as shown in Fig. 1, in which position themain body 1 is secured by tightening the screws 3, 23 and 59. The setscrew 17 is now unscrewed and the suction foot 15 tilted about its,journals let, so that the portion 12 of its suction face is parallelwith and gets asli'ght press against the pile 100. The suction foot issecured in this position,where after the air suction and air compressingpumps 74, 76 as well as the rocking rods 25, 61 and the drivingmechanism are started.

The uppermost sheet of the pile will then be seized by the suction foot15 and folded upwards against the rear portion 42 thereof, the rear edgeof the sheet falling outside the suction face against the extensions 13.During this suction period the valve 38 is open, the arm 40 presseddownwardly by the finger all. In this position of the suction foot 15compressed air streams through the both pairs of nozzles a l and 48. Theair from the nozzles 18, which is directed against the upper portion ofthe rear edge of the pile, will thereby loosen the sheets from eachother in the said upper portion of the pile. The air from the nozzels441, which is directed against the upper surface of the .pile somewhatin line with the inclined suction face portion 4-2, tends to blow downsuch further sheets, which possibly are clinging to the uppermost sheet,when this is seized by the suction foot.

During this period the support 53 has been pushed by the rocking rod 61into its most backward position, to be seen in Fig. 1, with the flap 56raised. because the bow 62 in this position of the support 53 has beenfree to swing up on the portion 63 against the stop pin 67. The crank 58is thereby inclined rearwardly and the adjustable screw 69 bears againstthe under side of the support 53. I

The two rocking rods 25 and 61 now take in their most backward positionsand in the next moment are given'a forward movement. The rod 25 therebyturns the bell crank lever 22, 19 lifting the holder 9 with the'suctionfoot 15 upwards, the movement of the latter guided by the sliding rods10, 11 and bushes 7, 8. On account of the forward inclined position ofthe bushes 7, 8 mentioned abovethe lifting movement does not occur in avertical direction but in a somewhat forwardly inclined direction. Thisinclination of the bushes 7, 8 is chosen so with reference to theinclined portion 42 of the suction face, that the raising and foldingmotion of the uppermost sheet caused by the suction foot15 does notdisplace the front edge of said sheet from its initial position. Toaccomplish his purpose exactly the upward motion ofthe suction footmight occur along a curved line instead ofthe straight line controlledby the sliding rods 10, 11, but owing to the rather short length of theupgoing motion of the suction foot said curvature can be substituted bythe said inclination of the rods 10, 11 without destroying the effect inany perceptible degree.

The linger e1. partakes in the upward inoven'icnt of the sliding rod 10,whereby the arm &0 is released, so that the valve 38 is shut by thespring 11. closing the air stream to the nozzles 48. On account hereofthe compressed air in an increased quantity and thus with a highertension will escape through the nozzles H and thus in a higher degreeprevent any further sheet to follow the uppermost sheet when seized bythe upwardly moving suction foot.

During the last mentioned period the rocking rod 61 moves forwardly thesliding support 53 with the flap 56 resting in the raised position bythe bow 62, which still is disposed'upon the portion 63. When thesuction-foot 15 is near the upperpoint of its stroke, the support 53reaches its innermost position, whereby the pin 68 strikes against thebow 62 and pushes it rearwards down from the portion -The support 53'now will stop immovable yieldingly pressed against the rear end of themain body 1 by the spiral spring 70. The flap 56 however innnediatelydrops down on the paper pile against the now uppermost sheet, andprevents this sheet from being displaced during the feeding ahead of thesheet, which has been properly seized by the suction foot. Due to themannerin which the flap 56 is hinged on the pin 57 with reference to theupper surface of'the'pile 100, the front end 'of the same will drop downupon the pile .with a substantial vertical movement, and

hence displacement neither forwardly nor 'backwardly of that-sheet inthe pile,'which gets touched by the dropping flap 56, will take place.

During the downward movement of the suction foot now following therocking rod 61 has reached the forward point of its stroke and is givena backward movement. The arm 58 thereby at first moves backwardlyturning the pin 57. in such a way, that the flap 56 1S raised withoutdisplacing the support 53 out of its position, because of the action ofthe spring 70. 'Not earlier than when the screw 69 trikes against theunder side of the support 53in which position the flap 56 has totallylost its contact with the pil 100the support'53 will be forced to followthe back ard movement of the rocking rod 61, because then any; furthertilting of the flap 61 is impossible. The pin 68, which is stationarilyfixed in the main body 1, once again permits the how 62 to swing uponthe portion by the action of the spring 6 so that the ila e 56 isprevented from not properly dropping down during all the next forwardmovement of the support 53.

The suction foot 15 now once again is in ope ative position on the pile100, the sheet, which now is the uppermost one, is seized thereto, thevalve 38 is closed and the open ation will be repeated in the way justdescribed.

I do not limit myself to the constructional embodiment of the inventiondescribed above and shown in the accompanying drawing, because slightvariations in the parts can be found within the scope or the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A sheet sepa *ating apparatus in paper feeding machines for theseizing of: single sheets from a paper pile comprising a main body, anup and down an able suction toot, forwardly inclined guides for saidsuction foot attached to said main body, said suction foot provided withan angular broken operative face, the front portion of which issubstantially parallel to the feeding direction and the rear portiondirected upwardly and continued rearwardly project-ing lugs, and means,to move the suction foot straightlined up and down, said main body alsoprovided with a i'listrihutor tor compressed air, connected with an aircomprcssor, and with pairs of nozzles. one pair of which is pivotallymounted on the suction toot at the rear side thereol. and the other pairof said nozzles mounted so far abalt said suction foot, that the nozzlesare disposed behind the pile of paper under operation.

2. A sheet separating apparatus in paper feeding machines for theseizing of single sheets from a paper pile comprising, a main body, anup and down mov: ble suction toot, forwardly inclined straightlinedguides for sari d suction loot attached to said main body, said suctiontoot provided with an annular broken operative face. the front portionof which is suljistairtially parallel to the feed in; direction and therear portion directed upwardly and continued by rearwardly projcctinglugs, and means to move the suction foot up and down in said guides.said main body also provided with a distributor for compressed air,connected with an air conipressor, and with nozzles, so far ahatt saidsuction foot, that the nozzles are disposed behind the pile of paperunder operation, said. distrilmtor provided with a throttle for the airsupply to the nozzles, and means to shut said throttle, when the toot israised, and to open same, when the suction is descended.

3. A sheet separat ng;- apparatus in paper feeding machines for theseizing of single sheets from apaper pile comprising a main body, an upand down movable suction foot, forwardly inclined guides for saidsuction toot attached to said main body, a flap hinged on a slidingsupport behind the suction foot, means to reciprocate said support toand from the suction toot, means to hold said flap raised when saidsupport moves from the suction foot, means to release the flap so as topermit it to fall down upon the pile of paper, when the support hasarrived near to its front position and means to hold said supportstationary during the raising; and the dropping of said flap and meansto adjiuitz bly limit the raisiiur movement of the flap.

4;. A sheet separating apparatus in paper feeding machines for seizingof single sheets from a paper pile conn nxisiugg; a main body positionednear the rear end of the pile, an up and down movable suction foot to orp the uppermost sheet near the rear end of the paper pile, tin'wardlyinclined straightlined guides for said suction toot attached to saidmain body, and means to move the suction foot up and down in a forwardlyinclined straightlined direction, whereby the toremost edge of theuppermost sheet rests unmovable during the lilting operation ot thesuction foot.

5. A sheet separating apparatus in paper feeding: machines for theseizing; oil. single sheets from a paper pile at the rear edge oi? thesome comprising a main body, an up and down movable suction toot,torwardly inclined straight-lined gruides for said suction :lootattached to said main body. said suction toot provided with an angularlybrolten operative face, the portions of which coir stitutingr planesurfaces, whereby the front portion is substantially parallel to theteeth ing direction and the rear portion directed upwardly, and. meansto move the suction foot up and down in a ili'orwardly inclii'iedstraigrlitlined direction.

(3. A sheet separating apparatus in paper feeding machines for theseizing oi? siun'le sheets from a paper pile comprising: a main body, anup and down movable suction "toot, forwardly inclined strai rhtlinedn'uidcs tor said suction foot attached to said main body, a flap hingedon a sliding support behind the suction toot, means to reciprocate saidsupport to and from the suction toot, means to hold said flap raised,when said support moves from the suction toot, means to rclease the flapso as to permit it to Fall. down upon the pile of paper, when the suppot has arrived near to its front position.

A sheet separating apparatus in paper feeding: machines for the seizingof single sheets from a paper p le connn'isinn; a main body, an up anddown movable auction toot forwardly inclined straight lined guides forsaid suction toot attached to said main body, a flap hinged on a slidingsupport behind the suction foot, means to reoi n'ocate said support toand from the suction foot, means to hold said flap raised, when saidsupport moves from the suction foot and means to hidjustably limit theraising movement of the A sheet separating apparatus in paper feedingmachines for the seizingof single sheets from a paper pile comprising amain body an up and down movable suction foot, forwardly inclinedstraight lined guides for said suction foot attached to said main body,a flap hinged on a sliding support behind the suction foot, means toreciprocate said support to and from the suction foot, means to holdsaid flap raised, when said support moves from the suction foot, meansto release 15 the flap so as to permit it to fall down upon the pile ofpaper, when the support has arrived near to its front position and meansto hold said support stationary duringthe raising and the dropping ofsaid flap.

9. In a sheet separating apparatus an angularly broken suction footmovable straightlined up and down, a hinged flap separated therefrom andpivotable about a centre disposed substantially in level with thehorizontal portion of the operative surface of said broken suction footwhen in the down position of said suction foot.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

ERIC HARRY LILJEBLADH.

